Abstract
In Uganda, low productivity of potato might be associated with poor and diverse adoption of innovative crop management practices. This paper aims to identify the potato farm typologies in southwestern Uganda, i.e. collections of farms that are homogeneous in uptake of innovations (use of fertilizer, organic input, fungicides, pesticides, seed selection methods, seed refreshment by using quality declared seed, and sole cropping), and to analyse these typologies based on socio-economic characteristics, access to agricultural extension services, memberships of farmers’ groups, yield levels of potato and return rates. A farm household survey (n=270) was carried out and principal component analysis and cluster analysis were used to identify types of farms differing in adoption of innovations. Four farm types were identified that demonstrated significant differences in uptake of innovation practices; despite the small differences in yield among farm types, differences in uptake were associated with significant differences in the yield and further in land ownership, availability of labourers and cash, economical return, and access to knowledge. The farm type with high frequencies of using organic input, fungicide input, pesticide input, seed selection method, quality declared seed and sole cropping achieved highest potato productivity; the farm type with frequent use of fungicide input and use of seed plot technology or positive selection was associated with the lowest potato yield. The findings emphasise associations between innovation uptake and farm characteristics. Opportunities for improvement through extension services and shared knowledge can achieve wider adoption, enhance potato productivity and increase income for smallholder farmers.
Highlights
The agricultural sector in Uganda plays a vital role in food security, poverty reduction, economic development, and income generation (Diao et al, 2010; Salami et al, 2010; Benin et al, 2012; Proctor, 2014)
This study explores the uptake of innovative management practices of smallholder potato production in southwestern Uganda and the packages of practices in which farmers have adopted them
The objectives of this paper were to define the uptake of innovations in potato production in different farm households in southwestern Uganda, by assessing the variations and relevant packages of improved practices, and how the farm types in these clusters differ in socio-economic characteristics, access to extension services, yield and economical return
Summary
The agricultural sector in Uganda plays a vital role in food security, poverty reduction, economic development, and income generation (Diao et al, 2010; Salami et al, 2010; Benin et al, 2012; Proctor, 2014). Kabale produced more than 45,578 Mg of potato tubers and Kisoro more than 25,617 Mg of potato tubers in the year 2008/09 (census from July 2008 until September 2009; Ugandan Bureau of Statistics, 2017) Together, this comprised more than 46% of the total national potato production in Uganda (Ugandan Bureau of Statistics, 2017). The national mean potato yield was ∼7 Mg ha−1 in the years 1999–2007 (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2018), and since 2008 it has been in decline to
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